Apr 14 - The Arabian Group for Exhibitions and Conferences launched a chain of international medical exhibitions at Damascus International Fairground.

Photo by Ibrahim Malla

First vet expo in Damascus

The first edition of an international exhibition for veterinary products and livestock supplies opened in Damascus on April 6. Vet Expo 2011, sheds light on the latest methods of livestock care and the most important animal production and veterinary health requirements. The exhibition will run up to April 8 at Damascus Fairground.

The third Red Cross Red Crescent Oslo kicked off on Mar 29 in Damascus hosted by the Syrian Arab Red Crescent. The first Red Cross Red Crescent International Federation (IFRC)’s disaster risk reduction (DRR) meeting was held in Oslo in February 2009.

Mar 18 - The International School of Choueifat - Damascus celebrated 10 years operation with a gala dinner at Sheraton Hotel. The school, opened in Damascus in 2001, was the first private international school in Syria to be registered by the Ministry of Education.

Al Nada association celebrated on Feb 12 the graduation of 78 students with a ceremony in the Dareya cultural center. Al Nada, active in Damascus since 2005, provides vocational courses for women in order to empower them to find a job and make a living. The courses include English, Information Technology, hair dressing, tailoring, traditional arts, and a reading course for illiterate women.

(AP) - Internet users in Syria said Tuesday that Facebook and YouTube were available for the first time in three years.

River life in Deir Ezzor

(SANA)- River life around the Euphrates region includes a variety of plant and animal species now listed in the 'Biodiversity Guidebook of Deir Ezzor'. This newly released publication provides insight into the wildlife in Deir Ezzor province.

Supporting agriculture

(SANA) - Agriculture is considered to be a priority within the Syrian Government's future 11th five-year plan. The primary strategy within the plan regarding agriculture is to enhance investments by allocating SYP 197 billion (1USD=46SYP) in addition to SYP 209 billion that is earmarked to support the Agricultural Support Fund and the modernization of irrigation systems.

Ostriches in Aleppo Badia for the first time

(SANA) - Al-Adami natural reserve, 100Km southeast Aleppo, will host ostriches in a 75-hectare area surrounded by a metal fence and supplied with drinking fountains.

Further step for the third mobile operator in Syria

The first press conference on the process of launching the third mobile operator was released on Feb 6 at Four Seasons Hotel Damascus. In the photo Dr. Haitham Shidiaq, consultant of the Minister of Telecommunication (on the right), and Dr. Mohammad Jalali, Deputy Minister of Telecommunication (on the left), reply to the journalists' questions.

Cetaceans in Syrian water wait for protection plan

(SANA) - Dolphins are a sign of optimism to the fishermen on the Syrian coast because they indicate the presence of fish schools, but they are in danger, together with whales and other cetaceans by accidental trapping in fishing nets, lack of food, hunting for commercial purposes and electromagnetic noise pollution. Recent deaths of cetaceans on the Syrian coast urges the official adoption of the National Plan for Conservation of Cetaceans in the Syrian Marine Water set in 2008.

UNICEF is optimistic about Syria

(UNICEF press release) - According to UNICEF regional director for MENA, Shahida Azfar, Syria is making laudable progress towards achieving the UN Millennium Development Goals. Nevertheless, infant mortality and malnutrition remains a major challenge in the country according to the UN Children's Fund.

Time for EU-Syria deal to be signed

(AFP) - Stefan Fule, the European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy, said in Damascus on Tuesday it is time for the long-dormant EU-Syria association agreement to be signed.

UNHCR appeals for aid for Iraqi refugees

(Middle East Online) - The head of the UN's refugee agency on Wednesday appealed for 280 million dollars to help some 190,000 Iraqi refugees, the majority of them in Lebanon and Syria. "I appeal to donor governments to recognise the critical needs of Iraqi refugees, particularly those who are becoming more vulnerable by the day," said UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Gutierrez.

Honey business

(SANA) Jan 19 – The number of beehives increased to 501.000 in 2009 in comparison to 463.000 in 2008 according to the Central Bureau of Statistics.

Stretching Syrian roads

(SANA) Jan 18 – The General Organization for Road Transport states that the road network in Syria expanded by 334 km in 2010, reaching a total length of 8,071 km. The cost of the network extension was of SYP 2, 5 billion (1 USD=SYP 46).

Investment Commission's investments exceeded 90 billion SYP in 2010

(SANA) Jan 18 – The investments of the Syrian Investment Commission which comprised of 400 projects in 2010 compared to 273 in 2009 were priced at 90 billion SYP (USD 1,9 billion). In its annual report released on Tuesday, the commission said that the estimated value of equipment, machines and the transportation services amounted to 82,4 billion SYP (USD 1,7 billion).

60% rise in export for Tartous Port

(Bloomberg) Jan 17 - Syrian exports from the Mediterranean port of Tartous grew 60% last year due to an increase in phosphate shipments. Exports from the port, which is Syria's largest port for bulk cargo and second for containerized freighthandles, stood at 2.7 million metric tons in 2010, most part of which is phosphates and cereals, while imports totaled 10.7 million tons, according to the port’s General Manager.

Syria unveils aid plan to tackle poverty

(Middle East Online) - The Syrian government has announced a 250 million dollar aid plan to help 420,000 impoverished families, state media reported on Monday. "It's one of the mechanisms put in place by the government to aid impoverished families" Diala Haj-Aref, Minister of Social Affairs and Labour, told the press.

Syrian railways will connect Europe to Eastern Asia

(SANA) JAN 16 - Future Deir Ezzor/al-Bukamal railway project aims to further connect Europe and Eastern Asia. The railway will be linked to the Iraqi network at al-Qaem, which will allow passengers and cargo coming from Europe to access Iraq with the help of Syrian ports. Services will also extend to the Arab Gulf, Iran and Eastern Asia.

(Bloomberg) - Tishreen reported the beginning of the Islamic Development Bank’s export-credit operating in Syria from Jan 12,2011. In the photo the Islamic Development Bank is donating an echo-doppler device to a Syrian Arab Red Crescent clinic back in April 2010.

Unified Laws of Demand

(SANA) Jan 9 - A symposium, held in Damascus by the International Chambers of Commerce (ICC) of Syria and Jordan in cooperation with the Central Bank of Syria (CBS) was held to discuss ways of finding a rapprochement between the Arab and the Syrian legislations concerning issues of bails and guarantees. The workshop which hosted members of both the private and public sectors dealt with issues relating to legal processes associated with disputes in accordance to international regulations.

Meeting the demand

Despite the fall of housing prices from their 2008 peak, real estate company Colliers International found that the average purchase price for residential real estate in Damascus is at USD 380 per square foot and rental prices at USD 20 per square foot per year. In this picture, a project is being built outside Damascus where prices are more affordable.

Khabour: river runs dry

Syria suffers from water shortages. They are caused by a drought since 2006, which has reduced rainfall, in combination with a rising population demanding more water. The situation led many farmers and herders to lose their livelihoods and leave the rural areas in search of manual jobs in the cities. One of the earliest regions to be effected was the area around Khabour river.

Wedding in Golan Heights

Jan 5 - Syrian Samar al-Khayal was granted permission to join her husband Nabih Farhat in occupied Golan Heights. The previously scheduled wedding, which was to take place on Dec 27, 2010 was cancelled as the bride was not granted permission to cross. The union took place at the Kuneitra crossing point facilitated by the International Committee of Red Cross(ICRC).